Princess Mononoke Returns to IMAX Theaters in 4K Digital Remaster

Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke is returning to theaters in Japan in a 4K digital remaster supervised by the studio, screening in IMAX starting October 24, 2025. The limited theatrical run follows a highly successful North American IMAX release earlier this year that demonstrated the enduring global appeal of Hayao Miyazaki's 1997 animated masterpiece.

Originally released on July 12, 1997, Princess Mononoke drew 14.2 million viewers and earned 19.3 billion yen at the Japanese box office, surpassing E.T. to become the highest-grossing film in Japanese box office history at that time. The film was re-released in 2020 during the pandemic, ultimately reaching a cumulative box office total of 20.18 billion yen with 15 million viewers. The upcoming IMAX release represents the first time a classic Studio Ghibli film has been presented in the IMAX format, following the simultaneous IMAX release of The Boy and the Heron in 2023.

According to Toho distributor representative Yoshida, the IMAX remaster project originated from North America, where GKIDS, a Toho group company, approached Studio Ghibli with the proposal. Studio Ghibli recognized the value of digitally preserving films originally created on physical film stock for archival purposes, making the project a natural fit. When asked why Princess Mononoke was selected for this treatment, Yoshida recalled Studio Ghibli describing it as a special work during discussions about the 2020 re-release, noting it as the film that marked a major turning point for the studio with its nearly 20 billion yen box office performance.

The North American IMAX release opened on March 26, 2025, across approximately 350 IMAX theaters. Despite the limited one-week IMAX run before transitioning to standard 4K screenings, the film earned approximately 3.8 million dollars during its opening weekend, placing sixth on the weekend box office rankings according to Box Office Mojo. The total North American theatrical run ultimately grossed nearly 1 billion yen, reaffirming the enduring power of Studio Ghibli films and Princess Mononoke specifically.

Yoshida emphasized that the theatrical experience remains paramount, particularly for experiencing the enhancements of 4K digital remastering and IMAX presentation. The 4K remaster brings unprecedented clarity to every detail of the animation, from the lush forest greens to character expressions and epic action sequences. Combined with IMAX's high-definition visuals and crystal-clear sound system, the presentation creates an immersive experience that makes viewers feel as though they have entered the story's world.

The success of the 2020 Studio Ghibli re-releases during the pandemic revealed significant demand from audiences who had never experienced these films in theaters, as well as from those who wished to revisit them on the big screen. This realization has driven Toho's continued commitment to theatrical re-releases of classic films. Following Princess Mononoke, Toho released 4K remastered versions of Ghost in the Shell and Innocence in February 2025, with Yoshida expressing enthusiasm for pursuing similar projects with other worthy films, including potentially more Studio Ghibli titles pending future discussions with the studio.

Princess Mononoke 4K Digital Remaster opens in IMAX theaters nationwide on October 24, 2025, for a limited engagement.